The University of Minnesota women’s golf team shot a combined score of 306 in the final round of the Rio Verde Invitational to finish in fifth place at the 20-team invitational. This was the fourth top-five finish of the 2008-09 season for the Gophers.

The Gophers finished with a 54-hole score of 916, one stroke behind fourth place Toledo and two strokes behind third place Eastern Michigan. The University of Kansas led the entire tournament and won the team title by 24 strokes over Arkansas-Little Rock.

Meghan Gockel of Kansas captured medalist honors by defeating Arkansas-Little Rock’s Sara Wikstrom on the first playoff hole. Both players finished with 54-hole scores of 5-over par 218.

For the second consecutive day, the entire Minnesota lineup carded scores that were sub-80.  Leading the way on Sunday was freshman Courtney Massey with a 2-over par 74.  Sophomore Michele Edlin carded a 76 while fellow sophomores Mary Narzisi and Samantha Sommers both shot 78.

Overall, Edlin finished in a tie for 26th place with a score of 229, one shot lower than Massey, Teresa Puga and Sommers, who all tied for 30th place with scores of 230. Narzisi’s 54-hole total of 237 put her in a tie for 59th place.

The Gophers will be off until Mar. 20-22 when they will travel to Charlotte, N. C. to take part in the Shamrock Invitational at Tega Cay Golf Club. Minnesota will also be part of the field at the Indiana Invitational (Apr. 6-7) and the Lady Buckeye (Apr. 18-19) before the Big Ten Championships on Apr. 24-26 at Birck Boilermaker Golf Club in West Lafayette, Indiana.